Skip to Main Content

Databases By Title:

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Last Updated: Dec 18, 2023 10:26 AM


Connect to Database

Remote access to this resource requires a UBITName and password.

Description

The major source for biographical information on individuals - engaged in all areas of activity -- who have lived in the British-dominated world. The later is important to note because individuals who lived in the colonies, the Commonwealth, or "associated" places are included. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is the direct successor of the esteemed Dictionary of National Biography. Offering 50,000 biographies, all written by experts and illustrated with 10,000 portraits from London's National Portrait Gallery, it is a complete revision of the earlier source's 36,000 articles. Seventy percent of the original articles have been completely redone, and 30% are heavily revised. Over 13,500 people have been added and coverage of women and other originally under-represented groups has been increased. Most biographies treat a single person but some contain a subsidiary biography, some cover a group, and there are articles on specific families. Many entries are lengthy and conclude with information on sources of information, pertinent archival collections, the source of likenesses, and a brief analysis of an individual's wealth at death. When appropriate, a biography is accompanied by a link to a parallel biography in the American National Biography and to a link to the National Register of Archives. The latter is a collection of the catalogs of British repositories.

Dates Covered

4th Century B.C. to 2000

Print Counterpart

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Edited by H.C.G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 
Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 60 vols. 
Lockwood Reference 
CALL NUMBER: DA28.O95.2004

Related Databases

Librarian

Profile Photo
Laura Taddeo
Contact:
421 Lockwood Library, North Campus
(716) 645-7970
Website
Subjects: English